Neymar, a club-mate of Alves and a fellow Brazil international, and Manchester City and Argentina forward Sergio Aguero also displayed their solidarity with the player by publishing photographs of themselves eating bananas.

Compatriots Hulk, Fred and Lucas Leiva also lent support via their social media accounts, with Liverpool midfielder Lucas writing on Twitter: "Congratulations on your attitude yesterday. We are together on this fight against racism."

Tottenham and Togo striker Emmanuel Adebayor said on Twitter: "Massive respect to danid2ois, there is no place for Racism in Football. #saynotoracism."

Spurs duo Nacer Chadli and Moussa Dembele were also pictured eating bananas with a message supporting the fight against racism.

The Spanish media reported that match referee David Fernandez Borbalan made a note of the incident and that the country's football association, RFEF, will meet on Tuesday to discuss the matter.

Alves has been a regular target of racist abuse during his 12 years in Spain with both Sevilla and Barcelona.

Referring specifically to Sunday's incident, which took place on 75 minutes, he said: "If you don't give it importance, they don't achieve their objective."

Alves, 30, was involved in Barca's first two goals as they came from 2-0 down against Villarreal to win 3-2 at El Madrigal.

His cross was deflected into the Villarreal net by Gabriel Armando on 65 minutes. Then another cross was deflected home by Mateo Musacchio 13 minutes later.

Lionel Messi then sealed the comeback seven minutes from time to reach the 40-goal mark in all competitions for the fifth straight season.

The win leaves Gerardo Martino's Barcelona side second in the table, four points behind leaders Atletico Madrid and two ahead of Real Madrid.

Barca and Atletico have three matches left, but Real, who play Bayern Munich in the Champions League semi-finals on Tuesday, have a game in hand. Atletico face Chelsea in the second semi-final on Wednesday.